Season 3: Chapter 75: Shady Deals
“What? WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE’S RETURNED HOME?!!!” Danse barked, the fine wood table in front of him cracking from the strain of his fists smashing against its surface.
“It is as I've said Commander,” Donut replied. “A missive from the Arch-Bishop Ferdinand came in, requesting her presence at once in Gracemia.”
“Bah! Just what I need!” Danse spat, holding his head in the palm of his hands. “It's bad enough that halfling musclehead takes off when I need her but to take her soldiers too?! Nyx below, what am I supposed to do with a bunch of mercenaries?!”
Your job. Donut said to herself, the woman raising her brow as the man's butler removed the desk and replaced it with a new one.
“Hn? What's this?” Danse asked, taking the scroll laid out on the desk by Donut.
“A map left by Lady Berus. Detailing the route to where she believes the artifact lies.”
Immediately Danse seemed to perk up, a smile on his fat face. “Oh, that useless sow wasn't so useless after all! Gather the boys Donut, we march immediately.”
Donut blinked, doing her best not to smile.
“Unfortunately sir, I am on orders.”
“Orders?” Danse replied, looking up, confusion evident on his face.
“Per High Justicar Berus, I am to gather samples of the Queen Mold and bring them back to Black Rock for study.”
Paladin Danse's eyes twitched.
“Come again?”
“I am on orders from High Justicar to-”
“I heard that, Justicar! Need I remind you that I am in charge of this expedition, and Berus was put UNDER my command.” Danse spat, standing up. “Which means YOU, are under my command! I am sick and tired of this mold nonsense!”
Donut spun on her heels, walking out of the tent, triggering the already irate man.
“Where? WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!” Danse roared, chasing after the Justicar and grabbing her in front of the entire camp.
Donut's eyes flashed, her silver blade screeching out of her scabbard to press against the Paladin Commander's throat.
A collective gasp was heard, but none moved.
“Correction, it is Lady Berus. You will address her with the honorifics her station affords her. Secondly, as Lady Berus is no longer a part of your expedition, the Justicars no longer answer to you.” Donut replied as dozens of eyes looked on, none of the mercenaries nearby daring to intervene. “Subsequently, I, do not answer to you, Lord Commander. Should you continue to disrespect Lady Berus, I will have no choice other than to defend her honor and the honor of the Justicars.”
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Donut's body began to radiate mana. Although she wasn't quite as strong as Lady Berus, or even the Paladin Commander, she could hold her own in a fight if it came to it but she wouldn't come out unscathed.
“If that is all, you shall release me at once so my business with you may be concluded, Lord Commander.” Donut affirmed.
Danse glared at the woman, his body radiating mana that overshadowed hers, yet ultimately, despite the humiliation of being shown up in front of the dredges he called an army, he let the petite woman go.
Satisfied, Donut sheathed her blade and walked off, donning her mask and leaving the Paladin red in the face.
“Damn whores.” Danse spat before walking back into the tent to inspect the map left to him by Lady Berus.
****
Donut walked for some time, journeying through the woods to reach the destination on her map.
Eventually, the Justicar came to a cove, the entrance to a tunnel system that was infested with mold, there, she could make out tarantuals and a naked woman, standing amidst the bubbling acid without a care in the world. Atop her head, a yellow toy shaped into a duck.
“I take it, you're Lady Slimey?” Donut called out, halting at the edge of the pool of acid and kneeling as she'd been instructed by Lady Berus.
The naked woman stepped lightly across the acidic and mold caked lake, walking until she stood above the Justicar.
Donut twitched. She could feel divine energy radiating off the slime, a feat, that should have been impossible.
The Justicar held her tongue, following her orders dutifully.
“And you are…?” The woman let out, her voice buttery like a siren luring men at sea to their deaths.
“Justicar Raspberry Donut.”
“...”
“...”
“Like the-”
“Yes, milady, like the sweet. The Donut family is famed for their pastry making, using techniques earned during the era of the great Hero and Lady Lyndis, we take great pride in our lineage of bakers and warriors.” Donut replied, realizing the woman before her bore striking resemblance to a certain painting back home.
“You wouldn't happen to be related to Andrean Smiche would you?”
Donut blinked, a name seldom people knew.
“Yes, that would be the founder of our house, before he changed our name.”
“Interesting, as promised. Two vials of the Queen Mold, sealed in their original containers taken from the laboratory.” The woman said, the vials exiting out of the palm of her hand as though it were passing through liquid.
“This… is adamantite glass…” Donut let out, wide-eyed as she peered into the flawless containers that were filled with black goo.
“Adamantite glass? It can be forged into glass?” The naked woman asked, brow raised at the Justicar.
“Yes, milady. But the method of doing so has been lost to the ages. Making adamantite glass a highly sought after commodity.”
“So what you're saying is that it's worth a lot?”
“A lot is an understatement. This much glass could very well purchase one a noble title or large plot of land.” Donut explained before tucking the vials away.
Suddenly the yellow duck atop the naked woman's head let out a squeak, one that vibrated with mana and made the naked woman’s form shimmer.
Interesting…
“With the samples in hand. I believe our business is concluded, milady.” Donut said, the Justicar curtsying before taking her leave.
Donut trudged back into the forest, pausing for a moment as she held the vials in her hand before turning her head to watch the woman slink across the pool of acid and back into the cave.
Interesting…
Donut didn't exactly know what High Justicar Berus was up to, or what deal had been made with the monster, but she trusted the woman's intuition and followed orders as she'd been taught.
Now, she had to follow those orders, even if they were uncomfortable as she eyed the bag containing her mission.
****Hiro**
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WHAT DO YOU MEAN WORTH A NOBLE’S TITLE?!?!!??